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OLIVIA

WebQuest

There is work to be done!  Now that you have read or heard the book, Olivia, your job is to perform the tasks listed below.  When you read a book, do you notice how your life is like the character's lives?  Do you notice how your life is different?  Do you pay attention to the pictures in books and see how they tell part of the story just like the words do?  Do you know how to look at art and decide if you like it or not?  Why don't all people like the same kinds of art and music?  We all have to make decisions about the way we act.  Does Olivia make the same decisions as you would make?  Once you have completed all the tasks, you should send Mr. Falconer a summary of your findings so that he can know what to include in his next book.  

Rules:  

You will be working with 3 other students in a group.  In group work, everyone works!  Each student will perform a different role in each group:

Person 1:  Reader - it is this person's job to read to the group.

Person 2:  Materials Manager - it is this person's job to make sure the group has the materials (paper, pencils, printouts, etc.) necessary to perform the task.

Person 3:  Scribe - it is this person's job to make any notes or fill out any forms as the group dictates.

Person 4:  Reporter - it is this person's job to report the group's progress/findings to the teacher/class.

See a word you don't know?  Check HERE for an on-line dictionary.  

Getting Ready to Go:

To learn more about this book and the author your teacher will share with you information from the following website:

http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-falconer-ian.asp 

Task 1:  Olivia's Life and My Life

Sometimes when we read books we see things that remind us of our own lives.  We understand stories better when we can relate to the characters' lives.  This task will help you decide how your life is like Olivia's life and how it is different.  

Print out one Venn Diagram for each person in the group.    

1.  The Reader should read the story again to all group members.

2.  The Materials Manager should provide the Venn Diagram and a pencil to each group member.  

3.  Each person should fill out the Venn Diagram according to their own life and to Olivia's life.  Things they have in COMMON should go in the space where the circles overlap.  (Example:  Olivia has a cat.  If you have a dog, you would write that in the GREEN circle.  If you have a cat, you would write that in the space where the green and the blue circle overlap.)  

4.  The Scribe should compare all four Venn Diagrams and decide who has the most in common with Olivia.  The Scribe should share this information with the group.  

5.  The Reporter should be ready to share findings with teacher or classmates. 

Extra:  Click HERE to read another story.  Draw your own Venn Diagram to compare and contrast your life with the characters in the story. 

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Part of understanding a story is making sure you understand the pictures and the names of things in the story.  This task will help you make connections between the story and real life.  

Print out the graphics sheet you will need for this task.  

Steps:

1.  The Reader should read the story again to all group members.

2.  The Materials Manager should provide the graphics sheet and the pencil and paper to the Scribe.

3.  The group should look at the graphics sheet and point out any items on the sheet that were shown or mentioned in the story. 

4.  The Scribe should circle the items that were in the story and put an "X" on the items not in the story.

5.  The Reporter should be ready to share findings with teacher or classmates.  The Reporter should click HERE to find the answer guide for this task ... AFTER the Scribe has marked the graphics sheet.  

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Print out the "Art Contest" form you will need for this task.  

Not everyone likes the same types of art or music.  In the book, Olivia has a favorite piece of art and she sees a piece of art she does not really understand.  Your task is to look at some famous artwork, decide which ones you like, which ones you don't like, and gives reasons for why you do or do not like them.  

Famous Pieces of Art:

1.  The Reader should assist all students in the group by reading the name of the artwork from the screen so that other group members can locate it on the Art Contest page.  

2.  The Materials Manager should make sure that each group member has a copy of the "Art Contest" form.   

3.  Each person should look at the artwork on-line and fill out the Art Contest form indicating which pieces of art they like (and why) and which pieces they do not like (and why).  

4.  The Scribe should compare each students' completed Art Contest form and tally the results.  The Scribe should share with the group which pieces of art were voted "best" and "worst."

5.  The Reporter should be ready to share findings with teacher or classmates. 

7.  What do you know about the artist?  Search HERE to find out about the artist. (You will see the artists' names on the left side of the screen.) What kind of artwork did he or she use?  

8.  Each student should draw/paint an original piece of artwork that has the same "features" of the one you voted best.  "Features" might include using the same art techniques as the famous artist (watercolor, pen and ink, etc.), drawing a picture of the same type subjects (example:  draw your own flowers, etc.), or using the same colors.    If you are interested in painting like Jackson Pollock, click here:  http://pbskids.org/arthur/parentsteachers/activities/acts/active_art.html and follow the directions!

NOTE:  Your teacher may have you listen to music by Maria Callas and compare that to other musical performances or other types of music.  

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In every story the characters have to make choices.  Some of them are good choices, and some of them are not so good.  In this task you will look at some of the choices Olivia made and decide if they are good choices or bad choices, and brainstorm ideas of how else she might have handled the situation.  

Print out the "Good Idea/Bad Idea" form each student in your group will need for this task.

1.  The Reader will read aloud from the handout each choice that Olivia made in the story allowing discussion by the group on each one. 

2.  The Materials Manager should print out or distribute one "Good Idea/Bad Idea" handout.  

3.  Each group should discuss the decisions Olivia made as the Reader reads aloud from the handout.  

4.  The Scribe should mark whether the choice was a "good idea" or a "bad idea" based on what the group decides.  The Scribe should then write down the BEST reasons given by the group for why the choices were good or bad .  

5.  The Reporter should make a list of all the ideas that group members have of how Olivia might have made better choices.  The Reporter should be ready to share these ideas with the teacher or other classmates.

NOTE:  The Eloise books (see list below) show Eloise making choices also.  Read your favorite Eloise book, make a list of all the decisions she makes, and discuss these with your group.  Make a list of "better" choices that Eloise could make.  

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Did you do a good job on all these tasks?  How do you know?  Take a few minutes and fill out the Self-Evaluation Rubric for this WebQuest.  Mark your answers honestly and really judge your own work. 

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